Michigan Hits Video Poker Operators With Record Fine

FLINT, MI -- After pleading guilty to two charges of gambling violations, two video poker operators were ordered by a circuit court judge here to pay a $200,000 fine to the state and $80,000 in restitution to the Michigan State Police. The financial penalty is the largest ever imposed for this type of crime in Michigan.

Michael P. Kremski, 55, of Grand Blanc and Robert A. Murray, 54, of Flint were described as ringleaders of a video poker operation that made illegal payoffs to customers in a dozen bars. Kremski is owner of Advance Coin. Both men received probation sentences of five and three years, respectively, avoiding a possible 10-year prison sentence, said local press outlets.

Five bar owners testified against the operators, including one man who owned 10 of the route's bars. The bar owners collectively have been ordered to pay $148,000 in fines and received probation rather than prison time.